Why is recycling of iron harder than aluminium?
1-LVDCPN > 09-05-2018, 06:36 AM
Oxidation plays a large part. Both iron and aluminum will react with oxygen, but unlike iron, which keeps oxidizing until the whole mass rusts away, aluminum oxides only form on the surface, protecting the rest of metal. A quick coating, like seen on beverage cans, prevents even that. Less oxidized metal means much easier recycling.
Aluminium is extensively recycled because less energy is needed to produce recycled aluminium than to extract aluminium from its ore. Recycling preserves limited resources and requires less energy, so it causes less damage to the environment. Steel can be recycled infinitely and it is used in a variety of applications and industries. While a good portion of steel comes from the commercial sector, there are also residential sources for steel recycling, including appliances and the steel in our autos.